Advice for Writers

"Be brave. Write what's true for you. Write what you think. Write about what confuses or compels you. Write about the crazy, hard, and beautiful. Write what scares you. Write what makes you laugh and write what makes you weep. Writing is risk and revelation. There's no need to show up at the party if you're only going to stand around with your hands in your pockets and stare at the drapes."

- Cheryl Strayed

On Idolatry

"What if I forgave myself? I thought. What if I forgave myself even though I'd done something I shouldn't have? What if I was a liar and a cheat and there was no excuse for what I'd done other than that because it was what I wanted and needed to do? What if I was sorry, but if I could go back in time I wouldn't do anything differently than I had done? What if I'd actually wanted to fuck every one of those men? What if heroin taught me something? What if yes was the right answer instead of no? What if what made me do all those things everyone thought I shouldn't have done was what also had got me here? What if I was never redeemed? What if I already was?"

- Cheryl Strayed, Wild

Idolatry is perhaps an unwise thing. No one, really, is good enough or perfect enough to earn someone's undiluted and intense worship. Everyone is a little bit broken.

But, if a person were worth it, that person is absolutely, entirely Cheryl Strayed. I could talk forever about the magic that she makes with words, but I won't today. Mostly because I have somewhere to be right now. But, it's coming. It'll probably be sickeningly gushy, too. You've been warned.

"Release yourself from that. Don't be strategic or coy. Strategic and coy are for jackasses. Be brave. Be authentic. Practice saying the word love to the people you love so when it matters the most to say it, you will.

We're all going to die, Johnny. Hit the iron bell like it's dinnertime."

- Cheryl Strayed